Written Answers Friday 10 September 2010

Scottish Executive

Energy Conservation

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive many applications were made to the Energy Saving Trust (Scotland) for the Energy Saving Scotland home loan scheme.

Jim Mather: The Energy Saving Trust have received 1,262 applications under the Energy Saving Scotland home loan scheme.

Energy Conservation

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many applications made to the Energy Saving Trust (Scotland) for the Energy Saving Scotland home loan scheme were (a) granted and (b) rejected.

Jim Mather: At close of business on 27 August 2010, 818 loans had been offered and 185 applications had been rejected. A further 186 applications are currently being processed and 73 applications have been withdrawn by the applicant.

Hedges

John Farquhar Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to take forward the conclusions of its consultation on high hedges and other nuisance vegetation.

Fergus Ewing: I intend to inform elected members of the progress made so far at a briefing to be held in Parliament on 16 September 2010, at which all members are welcome.

Higher Education

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what rate of population of Scotland are estimated to be degree graduates (a) currently and (b) in each of the last five years.

Michael Russell: The following table shows the number and proportion of working age people (excluding those aged under 20) who hold a degree-level qualification. This information is drawn from the Annual Population Survey, for which the latest data covers January to December 2009.

  Table 1: Number and Proportion of People Aged 20 to 59/64 with a Degree-level Qualification in Scotland (2005-09)

  

Year
Number of People Aged 20 to 59/64 with a Degree Level Qualification
Number of People Aged 20 to 59/64 with a Degree Level Qualification as a Proportion of Population2


2005
563,800
17.80%


2006
600,100
18.80%


2007
630,500
19.70%


2008
650,200
20.20%


2009
671,200
20.80%



  Source: Annual Population Survey (APS).

  Notes:

  1. Estimates from the APS are rounded to the nearest 100.

  2. Proportion estimates use the total number of people aged 20 to 59/64 in Scotland as the denominator. Between 2005 and 2009 working age was classified as 16 to 59 for females and 16 to 64 for males.

  3. Those aged under 20 have been excluded from the data as a negligible number will have a degree-level qualification at such an early age.

  4. The information includes all those whose highest qualification includes a Higher Degree, NVQ Level 5, First Degree/Foundation Degree or Other Degree.

Homecoming Scotland

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) projected estimate and (b) actual amount was of income generated for the economy of (i) Scotland and (ii) Edinburgh by The Gathering 2009.

Jim Mather: There was no projected estimate in terms of income generated for the economy by The Gathering event. The event was part of the Homecoming Scotland 2009 programme of events and the target for return on investment for Homecoming Scotland 2009 was an 8:1 return.

  The economic impact assessment of The Gathering conducted by the leading economic and social development consultancy, EKOS, showed that the event generated net additional impact of £8.8 million in Edinburgh and £10.4 million in Scotland. This represents a return on investment of 18:1 at the Edinburgh level and 21:1 at the Scottish level.

Homecoming Scotland

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) projected estimate and (b) actual amount was of income generated for the economy of (i) Scotland and (ii) Edinburgh by Homecoming Scotland 2009.

Jim Mather: The target for Homecoming Scotland 2009 was to deliver an 8:1 return on the core investment of £5.5 million.

  Independent research conducted by the leading economic and social development consultancy, EKOS, published on 21 May 2010 showed that Homecoming Scotland 2009 generated £53.7 million of additional tourism revenue for Scotland. This represents a return on investment of close to 10:1, 22 percent above the target set for the year.

  We do not have figures at an Edinburgh level.

Justice

Cathie Craigie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Cabinet Secretary for Justice last discussed the case of Mr Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi with other cabinet ministers.

Kenny MacAskill: I have discussed the case of Mr Al-Megrahi with the First Minister and Deputy First Minister on various occasions in recent weeks, most recently with the First Minister on 9 September 2010.

Justice

Cathie Craigie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Cabinet Secretary for Justice last had a briefing on the case of Mr Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi from East Renfrewshire Council.

Kenny MacAskill: There is regular contact between officials of the Scottish Government and East Renfrewshire Council. I have never had a briefing directly from East Renfrewshire Council on the case of Mr Al-Megrahi.

Justice

Cathie Craigie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how regularly the Cabinet Secretary for Justice is briefed on the case of Mr Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi.

Kenny MacAskill: Ministers receive weekly briefings during the parliamentary session and at various times during recess, depending on developments.

Justice

Cathie Craigie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive who briefs the Cabinet Secretary for Justice on the case of Mr Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi and who attends these briefings.

Kenny MacAskill: A range of policy and communications officials contribute to the briefing of ministers on this issue.

Local Government

Ms Wendy Alexander (Paisley North) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many local authority employees are paid (a) £100,000 to £150,000, (b) £150,001 to £200,000 and (c) more than £200,000.

John Swinney: Information at this level of detail is not held centrally. The pay of local authority employees is a matter for local authorities as independent corporate bodies.

Mental Health

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many staff were employed by Breathing Space in (a) 2007-08, (b) 2008-09 and (c) 2009-10.

Shona Robison: The number of Breathing Space staff employed in each of the years (a) 2007-08, (b) 2008-09 and (c) 2009-10 is listed in the following table:

  

 
March 2007
March 2008


Skillset
Head Count
Whole-Time Equivalent (WTE)
Head Count
WTE


Special Helpline Advisors
22
10.35
32
13.03


Breathing Space Service Operations Supervisors
3
2.81
3
2.71


Breathing Space Service Manager
1
1
1
1.00


Breathing Space Development Officer
0
0
1
1.00


Breathing Space National Coordinator
1
1
1
1.00


Breathing Space Support Officer
1
1
1
1.00


British Sign Language workers
-
-
-
-


Total
28
16.16
39
19.74



  

 
March 2009
March 2010


Skillset
Head Count
WTE
Head Count
WTE


Special Helpline Advisors
25
11.57
21
9.28


Breathing Space Service Operations Supervisors
3
2.81
3
2.81


Breathing Space Service Manager
1
1.00
1
1.00


Breathing Space Development Officer
1
1.00
1
1.00


Breathing Space National Coordinator
1
1.00
1
1.00


Breathing Space Support Officer
1
1.00
1
1.00


British Sign Language workers
-
-
2
0.40


Total
32
18.38
30
16.49



  Note: In March 2010 a recruitment exercise took place and from this a further 2.4 WTE took up post in June 2010.

Mental Health

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of calls to Breathing Space are unanswered in an average week.

Shona Robison: Currently an average of 7% of calls to Breathing Space are unanswered due to the caller hanging up.

Planning

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that the views of the local community are taken into account when reaching a decision on the Muthill Conservation Area Rationalisation Scheme.

Jim Mather: SSE submitted the Muthill rationalisation scheme to Scottish Ministers on 29 April 2010. Since then it has been subject to consultation with Perth and Kinross Council, and their response to me also reflects the views of all community councils in those areas relevant to the rationalisation scheme.

  I will consider the consultation responses before I take a final decision.

Planning

Elizabeth Smith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider asking Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission Ltd (SHETL) to accept Muthill and Tullibardine Community Council’s proposal to underground the Beauly to Denny power line in the vicinity of Muthill.

Jim Mather: I granted consent for an overhead line in the Muthill area following full and careful consideration of all the objections and representations received, the evidence produced to and submissions made at the inquiry and the inquiry report. The reporter’s report concluded that "alternative routeing and/or undergrounding a section or sections of the proposed line in the Perth and Kinross area has not been justified" (para 9.5.17, Vol 4).

Planning

Elizabeth Smith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Minister for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism will reply to the letter sent to him by Muthill and Tullibardine Community Council on 25 May 2010 in relation to the Beauly to Denny power line.

Jim Mather: Since the letter of 25 May 2010, my officials have met with representatives of Muthill and Tullibardine Community Council and further supporting information has been presented by them. This is currently being considered and a reply will be issued shortly.